National Gundog Association

NATIONAL GUNDOG ASSOCIATION – 3RD AUGUST 2025

FLATCOATED RETRIEVERS JUDGE: TAMSIN SWAIN (Ghilliesmark)

I would like to thank the committee and clubs making up the National Gundog Association for honouring me with this, my first Championship Show appointment; Also, to the all the exhibitors for their fabulous entry. I was blessed with two amazing stewards who kept everything running smoothly with professionalism and good humour (Thank you Donald Young and June Redfern)

Veteran Dog (2,0)

1 Holman’s Ch/SA Ch Trevena Masterchef at Namtresa Sgwc (Imp Zaf).

Well boned but no sign of lumber from this extrovert lad. All proportions correct as are all the angles. Deep brisket and good spring of rib from behind elbow allowing for clean and straight fore movement. Short coupled strong loin. Soft and kindly expression. Super topline which was held on the move. Best Veteran

2. Hall’s Rotherfield Just the Ticket

Racier male giving no hint of his veteran status and demonstrating typical flatcoat enthusiasm; Fabulous expression. Elbows well under, good layback of shoulders and decent topline. Moved soundly.

Minor Puppy Dog (6,0)

1.Bowen’s Clandrift Make it Funky.

Well on for age but not overly so. Moved well maintaining a decent topline given age. Kind expression, good front, length of upper arm and layback. Plenty of heart room, overall an excellent template to build on. Will watch with interest as he matures.

2. Bellamy & Nicklin’s Moontorn Count on Me

Another promising pup, shown to advantage giving me a difficult decision between the top placings. Lovely reach of neck through to nicely moulded typical head. Moderate bend to stifles, good tight feet and sufficient bone. This lad also moved well for such a baby maintaining his level topline and will only improve as he finds his feet.

3. Mcilwaine & Reynolds’ Flatcharm Mr Heckles for Benoveor.

 Puppy Dog (6,1)

1. Trotter’s Gemswin Sharp Dressed Man

What this young lad lacks in maturity he makes up for in enthusiasm, pretty much bursting into the ring. Moved with drive and purpose for one this young. Dark eye and beautiful expression. Clean lines and good reach of neck from well-placed shoulders. Hocks well let down. So much to like and will follow this young man’s progress.

2.Bowen’s Clandrift Make it Funky

3. Mcilwaine & Reynolds’ Flatcharm Mr Heckles for Benoveor

Junior Dog (2,0)

1.Blain’s Rotherfield Made to Last at Steelriver

Lovely type with dark eye and kindest expression. Prominent fore-chest with good depth allowing plenty of heart room, quality bone throughout. Fore limb angulation gave good layback and extension on the move. Round strong feet and close couplings to the loin.

2.Pierce’s Wychwizard Forester at Tammilcrag

Racier stamp. One-piece moulded skull, ears well set on. Good reach of neck. Stood sound and true both fore and hind. Fabulous kindly expression. Just preferred the chest and loin of 1. Lots of maturing still to do so these two will likely swap places.

Yearling Dog (2,0)

1st Blain’s Rotherfield Made to Last at Steelriver

2.Hazelton and Vasey’s Telurn Ghost of You for Hazeyvasey.

Nice moulding to head, intelligent expression. Good layback to shoulders, well-muscled with level topline when stationary. Carrying a little extra today which spoilt his profile on the move.

Novice Dog (1,0)

1.Mcilwaine & Reynolds’ Flatcharm Mr Heckles for Benoveor

Stood alone but worthy of placing, another promising baby. Gentle kind dark almond shaped eye in beautiful head with ears well set on. Good shoulder placement and return of upper arm. Presented and handled beautifully just missing out to slightly more mature peers in earlier classes.

Graduate Dog (6,0)

A challenging class with placings likely to switch over the coming months.

1. Smith’s Vynesbrook Hobson’s Choice

Nicely moulded masculine head that was in no way coarse. Moderate bend of stifle and strong in second thigh and loin. Level topline, good depth of chest with sufficient spring of rib. Shown and moved to advantage, moving straight and true with drive around ring.

2.Campbell & Brown’s Ronevorg King of Attitude

Beautiful head and expression, nice moulding with good length and depth of muzzle. Excellent bone, topline and correct angles fore and aft. Close decision but lost out as his mind was on other things which sadly affected his profile.

3.Blain’s Rotherfield Made to Last at Steelriver

Post Graduate Dog (8,2)

Another very close class with some worthy dogs narrowly missing out on top placings.

1. Burroughs’ I Know Him So Well at Rokaness

Masculine but beautifully moulded head with the kindest dark eye and softest expression. Good depth of chest, plenty of heart room and required spring of rib. Strong and muscled throughout which aided his purposeful movement; covered the ground well. Other attributes complimented by a decent workmanlike jacket.

2. Buckley’s Blacktoft Brindisi by Buckleyhill

Much as above; kindest eye with just a hint of naughtiness. Excellent depth of chest and strong close coupled loin. Correct angulation enabling sound and true movement. Am sure he and the winner will be swapping places regularly.

3.Hall’s Hightyne Night Train

Limit Dog (11,2)

1.Colson’s Windyhollows Ragged Robin JW

Stood out in this class from outset. Of excellent type and bone with nothing overdone. Chest deep and moderately broad, brisket well defined. Beautiful reach of neck and superb topline. Good length of upper arm into correct layback of shoulder, strong and short couplings. Super head and expression. Moved with reach and drive (sadly did not move as well when it came to the challenge but am sure top honours will be his on another day).

 2. May’s Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac

A little racier than 1 but every inch the boy and presented a pleasing picture. Plenty of heart room; front angulation all good with correct return of upper arm into layback of shoulder. Hocks well let down and moderate bend to stifles. Moved well; another one to watch.

3.Eggingtons and Davis’s Pajanbeck Think of Me (ai)

Open Dog (10,1)

1. Walker’s ShCh Lizzlog Buzz Lightyear

Entered the ring as if he owned it and continued with this mindset. Wonderful expression with typical hint of flatcoat humour. True to type, exceptional layback, with elbows well under and moving cleanly. Drove around the ring covering the ground effortlessly and delivering near perfect profile on the move. Handled and presented beautifully and in full dense jacket. Clearly demonstrating ‘fit for function’; In the challenge he could not be denied the top honour. DCC BOB

2. Bellamy’s Ch Woodfinch Masquerade

Masculine and workmanlike dog. Beautifully moulded head, dark eye with mischievous expression. Super level topline held on the move. Shown in hard well-muscled condition with no exaggeration. Strength in loin and couplings that I was looking for. Many similar attributes to 1 which made the decision between the two very close. RCC

3. Anson & McManus’s Rotherfield Secret Code

Special Beginners Dog or Bitch (10,0)

1. Clark’s Hurstclough Night Owl at Flanova

This boy stood out in the class and is one I have noticed before and was not disappointed. True to type with kindest expression. Good bone and feet, moderate bend of stifle and strong loin. Straight and true movement.

2. Turner’s Angel Undercover Take my Breath Away (imp Fra)

Feminine bitch with pretty nicely moulded head all in correct proportions. Excellent front and spring of rib. Short coupled and balanced. Moved well but did not hold the topline of 1.

3 Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet

Veteran Bitch (11,3)

Another challenging class as all worthy of placing.

1. Colson & Fox’s Blacktoft Dancing on Ice with Windyhollows (ai)

Mature lady but in no way showing her age. Smaller frame with beautiful feminine head, dark eye and intelligent and mischievous expression. Full furnishings and moving with style.

2.Walker’s Lizzlog Brewing Bettie JW

Was literally splitting hairs between these two as pretty much came down to the coat. Super dark eye giving intelligent and kindly expression. Good length and depth of muzzle whilst maintaining femininity. Correctly constructed fore and hind allowing accurate and driving movement. Fits the brief all round.

3. Romeo-Dieste’s Hopevalley Morning Rainbow JW

Minor Puppy Bitch (10,1)

1. Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet

An absolute poppet coming together well. Balanced both static and on the move. Correct angulation to the front and rear, good bone and plenty of heart room. Nicely moulded head and intelligent expression. BPIB

2.Stevenson’s Steelriver Pure Majness

Racier young lady with good fore-chest, correct shoulder layback and moderate bend of stifle. Pleasing reach of neck and moulded head. Dark almond shaped eye giving kindest of expressions.

3.Eggingtons and Davis’s Pajanbeck Hold My Halo

Puppy Bitch (6,0)

1. Gale’s Willowswind Skylark

Maturing nicely with gentle expression and beautiful head. Shoulders correctly set, strong loin and level topline. Moved well.

2.Bellamy’s Moontorn Chasing the Dream

Lots to like in this young girl, excellent topline for a baby and shown to advantage. Good depth to length ratio and covered the ground well with positive movement. Furnishings coming along nicely.

3. Prior’s Gemswin Wherever I Lay My Hat at Finnashember

Junior Bitch (13,0)

1. Jacobs & Reynold’s Secret Blue Dress Basteta for Gemswin (imp Ltu)

Typy bitch moved straight and true covering the ground well. Elbows well under with angles to upper arm and shoulders providing good layback. Close coupled, moderate bend of stifle and well-muscled second thigh. Kind intelligent expression.

2.Phipps-Baker & Baker’s Maddouse Never to Much

Feminine racy bitch, moving with drive. Good reach of neck, well-muscled for age, level topline completes a beautiful silhouette. Melting expression.

3.Thurgood’s Thurwitt Lyra Belacqua

Yearling Bitch (5,1)

1.Romeo-Dieste’s Hopevalley Morning Xanadu

A cracking bitch, well on for age. Good depth, sufficient layback and short couplings. Balanced outline and moving with drive and as one with her handler. Kind expression and nicely finished with full furnishings; shown in immaculate condition.

2.Walker’s Lizzlog Naughty Nun at Night

A bright and enthusiastic young lady that just lacked the maturity of 1. Good layback and correct angulation throughout. Level topline held whilst covering the ground well.

3.Thurgood’s Thurwitt Lyra Belacqua

Novice Bitch (13,1)

1. Phipps-Baker & Baker’s Maddouse Never to Much

2.Dunnett’s Hoedun the Night Before

Bitch of good type and nicely moulded one piece head and kind expression. Pleasing reach of neck, level topline and decent short loin. Moved with good and sound strides covering the ground well.

3.Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet

Graduate Bitch (9,1)

1.Moxey’s Dymexe My Cherie Amour JW

Feminine bitch full of flatcoat fun and a fabulous “look at me” attitude; She really could not be ignored; from her ‘Naughty but nice’ expression to her joyful tail action. Good fore-chest, loin short and strong.

Pleasing length of upper arm and shoulder placement. Moderate bend of stifle and presenting a super overall impression of balance both in profile and on the move. RBCC

2.Clark’s Kazval Turn Back Time at Flanova

Typical lady with good length of neck and not overdone in any way. Lovely dark eye and kind expression. Moderation throughout for this sound workmanlike bitch. Moved well.

3.Walker’s Lizzlog Tittle Tattle

Post Graduate Bitch (5,0)

1.Jones’s Benvellyn Sequoia JW

Good things come in smaller packages, beautifully put together and moved to advantage with effortless drive. Typical soft and intelligent expression. Nicely moulded one piece head with good length of muzzle. Good forechest, spring of rib and length of loin, hocks well let down. Sound from correct angulation; shown in sparkling condition with full furnishings completing the picture. Could not be denied top honours. BCC

2.Price & Nicholls’ Llantrussa Dearest Zelda

Much to like about this stunning darkest liver girl, just lost out on overall finish. Lovely head and expression. Correct angulation all through, good level topline and shown in hard condition. Moved with drive and purpose. Pushed hard for top placing and have no doubt her day will come very soon.

3.Kiddell’s Diamante Blu Regina Della Pace to Hameldowntor JW (Imp Ita)

Limit Bitch (16,4)

1.Lane & Lane-Ridyard’s Kulawand Cartier

Traditional type bitch with nicely moulded head, strong muzzle and kind expression. Good depth to brisket and correct angles with moderation throughout. Moved well once settled. Tended to over-extend which spoilt outline but stood sound and true when more relaxed.

2.Collins’s Telurn Falling in Love with Steeplehouse

Workmanlike bitch possessing a good reach of neck, balanced angulation and clean lines with no exaggeration. Gorgeous typical head and intelligent expression, moved well.

3.Holmes’s Rydanah Devils in the Detail

Open Bitch (13,4)

Places were hard fought in this class so splitting of hairs between placings.

1.Phipps-Baker & Baker’s ShCh Never Say Never Oasis of Peace to Maddhouse

A nicely put together lady, shown in excellent condition with strong second thigh providing power to her driving movement. Kind expression, correct couplings and level topline; Full furnishings completed the picture.

2.Romeo-Dieste’s ShCh Hopevalley Morning Wicked

Lovely reach to neck and correct angulation through front assembly to hind. Good size with level topline. Soft expression giving just the hint of naughtiness or humour. Shown to advantage and covered ground soundly.

3.Bellamy’s Moontorn Better Half of Me JW ShCEx OSW